Friday, December 14, 2007

My friend, Ellen, of the very generous speculaasplank give-away, tagged me this morning. I am supposed to come up with five things that aren't normally known about me and then tag five other friends. This game of tag is a great way of getting more people to visit our blogs, it gives us all a sort of community feel and introduces us to blogs we may not have otherwise found.

Okay, so let me give this some thought...

I hate my toes! I have short, chubby toes and I hate them! I didn't wear a pair of sandals until I was over 50 because growing up my mother and sisters always made fun of my toes.

I have trouble letting go of things. I've saved Christmas cards every year since we were married (1971), all neatly packaged in zip lock baggies.

I'm an avid reader. I love books and I read every night before bed and probably read 8 to 10 books a month. I love humorous novels, psychological thrillers, murder mysteries and series novels where I can get to know the characters from book to book and can't wait til the next book is published.

I would love to be more productive, creative, talented, organized, and, my husband would add, a better housekeeper.

I won a baby beauty contest when I was 3 months old and received a trophy and a little silk cape and crown.

Monday, December 10, 2007

What a great surprise I had this morning when I checked my e-mail and found a message from Ellen Borggreve ofEllen Borggreve Designs saying that I won the speculaasplank from her blog give-away.

Ellen lives in The Netherlands and her blog has a wonderful explanation about Sinterklaas and these wooden molds for making treats for good girls and boys. Please visit her blog to find her story as she tells it so much better than I possibly could.

She was able to find two of these special molds, kept one for herself and very generously held a give-away on her blog for the other one. And I was the lucky winner!

She makes the most beautiful award-winning bears and other critters. Her work is amazing. Take a look at her blog and see if you don't think so, too. I aspire to own one of her bears one of these days.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The Roundup is here and it's time to share some favorite recipes with you. If you got here by just blog surfing, you need to begin with Lisa at qdPatootiesand she'll get you started with her favorite yummy Christmas Cookie recipes. She'll then send you on your way to more recipes by giving you a link to the next Roundup "hostess."

This should be lots of fun and you'll gather at least a dozen cookie recipes...maybe more.

Thumbprint Cookies

Makes 4 Dozen Cookies

This recipe came from my mother's recipe box.

I have no idea where she got the recipe.

1-1/2 Cups of your favorite nuts, finely chopped

1 Cup Shortening

1/2 Cup packed brown sugar

2 Eggs, separated

1 Tsp. Vanilla

2 Cups flour

1/2 Tsp. Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix shortening, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla thoroughly. Measure flour, add salt and blend together. Mix flour and shortening mixtures together. Roll dough into balls using about 1 Tsp. per ball. Beat egg whites slightly with a fork. Dip balls in egg whites, then roll balls in finely chopped nuts. Place on a cookie sheet about 1" apart. Bake 5 minutes and remove from oven. Press your thumb into each cookie. (These cookies are hot so you'll want to use a small spoon on melon baller to press into the cookies.) Fill indention with jelly or jam and return the cookies to the oven and bake an additional 8 minutes.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge

Makes 36 1-1/2 inch squares

The note on this card indicates it came from Opal S.

Combine in large sauce pan:

2 Cups Sugar

2/3 Cup Milk

1/4 Cup Cocoa

2 Tbsp. Light Corn Syrup

1/8 Tsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Butter

3/4 Cup of your favorite coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Stir over medium heat until chocolate melts and sugar dissolves. Cook at 234 degrees or until a little dropped in cold water forms a soft ball. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat. Add butter. Beat until thick and not glossy. Quickly stir in nuts and pour into a buttered 8- or 9-inch pans. When cool, cute into squares.

Russian Tea Cakes

Makes about 4 Dozen one-inch cookies

1 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Sifted Confectioner's Sugar

1 Tsp. Vanilla

2 1/4 Cups Flour

1/4 Tsp. Salt

3/4 Cup of your favorite finely chopped nuts

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla thoroughly. Stir flour and salt together; add to butter mixture and stir in nuts. Chill dough. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until set but not brown. While still warm, roll in confectioner's sugar. Cool. Roll in confectioner's sugar again.

This is what I received from Penney atSeamore Collectibles. Our Teddy Talk forum offered a Swap for something we made ourselves other than teddy bears or other soft sculptures.Penney designed and hand painted this Christmas set because she knows we have three Scotties. The plate is quite large, the wine glasses with snowmen and Scotties even have little snow flakes on the base of the glass, and the little ornament has another Scottie. It's just a beautiful set. My swap to Penney was a delicate sterling silver and pearl bracelet and earring set. Sorry...I didn't take any pictures. Allyn said I got the better end of the deal.

Only two days until we begin Lisa's Christmas Cookie Recipe Roundup. Lisa's qd Patooties starts the Roundup, or just click the graphic at the top of the page and you'll be directed to her site. She'll direct you to another site and another cookie recipe...and so on. Waggle Bears will be your last stop and you should have picked up 12 great Christmas cookie recipes by the end of the Roundup.Sounds like fun and who can resist Christmas cookies!

About Me

I've been designing and creating my own teddy bears for a little less than 3 years, although I've have been involved in some form of creative expression throughout my life. Along with creating one-of-a-kind teddy bears, I enjoy quilting, beading and recently began classes in chain maille. I love them all!